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All of this does not mean to say that there is not a feeling in Hong Kong that they must put the democratic issues behind them as all the other elements in the jigsaw are arranged between now and 1997.
On the Immigration package, on which officials from HMG and HKG are now working, there were those who wondered whether the package would go through Parliament unimpeded. I did not, in public, point to any great ease to its Parliamentary passage. I do think however that the mathematics of 50 000 heads of family set against an absolute ceiling of 225 000 produces a mathematical nonsense when the average size of a family is about 3.
Turning to Vietnamese Boat People, I was able to visit a camp at Chi Ma Wan. Not for the first time I found this experience depressing in many ways although encouraging in terms of the work done by the Correctional Services people to make life as bearable as possible.
There is very real concern that inability to reach agreement with Vietnam (and America) about Manditory Repatriation, will lead to a further damaging influx which might even put last years problem in the shade.
On the business front, the place continues to hum with activity. Piers Jacobs explained that growth was much lower than in recent years, inflation high and that there was a shortage of labour. One thing which I found most striking was the claim, which I am sure is right, that British firms tend to send out inadequate people to make presentations and generally try to get their companies a serious slice of the action. The new airport is a case in point. Peter Heap, the Trade Commissioner
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